Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bagley man faces felony charges. Police say he defecated in a patrol car on purpose.
Sha-Lu Nuday Steeprock, 23, appeared in court on Wednesday, according to a criminal complaint. He is charged with first-degree damage to property. He is also charged with fifth-degree drug possession. He also faces charges of fleeing police and obstructing legal process.
Arrest on Paul Bunyan Drive
Police say officers saw Steeprock on Jan 12. They say it was at a business on Paul Bunyan Drive Northwest. The complaint says officers knew he had active warrants. Police say they approached him around 8:06 p.m. Police say they told him he was under arrest.
Investigators say Steeprock ran on foot. Police say he slipped on the snow. Police say they caught him. The complaint says he still resisted arrest.
Powder Found During Search
Police say officers searched Steeprock after the arrest. They report finding a bag with about 0.95 grams of white powder. Officers say the powder field-tested positive for fentanyl.
Patrol Car Marked as Biohazard
Police say Steeprock was taken to a hospital. Police say he was cleared there. Officers then placed him in the back of a patrol car.
Officers say he told them he needed to use the bathroom. Soon after, police say they smelled a strong odor. The complaint says officers heard grunting. It also mentions the sound of running liquid. Police say an officer told him to stop. The complaint says Steeprock answered “no”.
Police say they later found a large amount of feces inside the patrol car. The complaint says staff cleaned the car for about an hour. Police say stains and odor remained. Police say the car was marked as a biohazard. The vehicle was removed from patrol. It stayed out of service until it could be detailed and sanitized.
Charges and Prior Record
The complaint says the incident disrupted police work. It says the patrol car could not be used. The complaint also lists other pending cases. Those cases include fleeing police, DWI, and assault. It also lists prior convictions for DWI and assault. It lists domestic assault and giving false information.
What the Statutes Say
State law allows up to five years for first-degree property damage. A fine can reach $10,000. See Minn. Stat. § 609.595.
Fifth-degree controlled substance crimes can also carry up to five years. See Minn. Stat. § 152.025.
Fleeing a peace officer is covered by Minn. Stat. § 609.487.
Obstructing legal process is covered by Minn. Stat. § 609.50.
Related Resource
For basic fentanyl facts, see the CDC fentanyl page.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.